Sourwood is a fairly common understory tree in areas with dry, acidic soil. Fragrant sprays of small white flowers in late spring/early summer and brilliant scarlet leaves in fall.

Chatham Co., NC 6/13/10.

The large, simple, finely serrate leaves have an acidic taste, similar to wood-sorrel (Oxalis). Young leaves are edible. Can be difficult to remember how to spell -- note that the genus is not spelled Oxydendron and the species is not arboretum.

Hanging sprays of fragrant white urceolate (urn-shaped) flowers, arranged in racemes, appear in late spring. They are very popular with bees and other insects.

The butterfly is a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus).

Moore Co., NC 6/10/06.

Sprays of up-pointed capsules full of minute seeds follow the flowers in fall.

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Leaves of seedlings are bristly-hairy.

Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 6/14/2009.

Detail of bristly seedling leaves.

Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 6/14/2009.

Winter twigs from the past year's growth are distinctively reddish, while twigs from the year before that are greenish-tan.

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

Chatham Co., NC 6/13/10.

The deeply furrowed, blocky bark is quite distinctive. The trunk usually leans, almost never growing straight up, and is oval in cross-section instead of circular.